Oaks and Derby thread! 5/6 th of June

Good morning as we get closer to the Oaks and Derby

Oaks: Sariska 7/2, Rainbow View and Midday 5/1, 10/1 bar

Derby: Fame and Glory 5/2, Sea the Stars 3/1, Gan Ahras 7/1, 10/1 bar

Post your views and fancies here.

'Wise cash' sees Perfect Truth slashed for Oaks


PERFECT TRUTH was on Monday more than halved for the Investec Oaks by Paddy Power, who described the support for the Aidan O'Brien-trained Chester winner as "very wise cash".

Perfect Truth was introduced into the Oaks market at a general 20-1 after winning the Weatherbys Bank Cheshire Oaksat Chester on May 6 and had received little support but is now into 9-1 with Paddy Power.



"Punters have latched on to the fact that she could be the Ballydoyle flagbearer in the Oaks and have thrown the cash at her," said Paddy Power.

Stan James go a point shorter at 8-1 but William Hill still quote her in double figues at 11-1, as do Victor Chandler and Coral at 14-1.

"Trainer Aidan O'Brien dominates the Derby betting with a host of leading fancies, but although it's a different story as far as the Oaks is concerned, the support for Perfect Truth suggests the filly will go to Epsom as a live contender," said Coral's David Stevens.

Towards the head of the Oaks market Midday was cut to 5-1 from 6-1 by Victor Chandler, who also trimmed Sariska into 3-1 (from 7-2), while Skybet continued to see money for one-time drifter Rainbow View and shortened her odds to 9-2 (from 5).

Following Brian Meehan's positive comments about Totesport.com Dante Stakes disappointment Crowded House William Hill reinserted the Racing Post Trophy winner to their Derby list at 16-1and Skybet cut market leader Sea The Stars to 11-4 from 3-1.

The only notable Royal Ascot mover was Steinbeck, who was cut to 5-1 from 11-2 by Stan James for the Coventry Stakes.

Leocorno cut for Oaks after slammingrivals

Report: Sandown, Thursday
Panmure Gordon Stockbroking Fillies' Handicap 1m1f, turf, 3yo+

LEOCORNO made a visually impressive seasonal reappearance at Sandown when slamming her rivals in preparation for a possible tilt at the Investc Oaks on June 5, and was trimmed to 7-1 from 12 with Paddy Power, William Hill offer 8-1 from the same price. Victor Chandler initially offered 12-1 from 16, but quickly shortened again to 10-1 for the race.

Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, who celebrated a treble on the card, Leocorno was running off 78, having won her only previous career start at Doncaster last October.

Bounced out of the stalls by Frankie Dettori, the 8-11 favourite was sent to the front initially, but then dropped back to fifth, and remained in that position until two furlongs from home.

With Lyra's Daemon and Lady Brora disputing the lead, Dettori moved his mount to challenge, and the daughter of Pivotal picked up sweetly when asked, pulling clear toeventually win by an eased down five lengths.

Sariska among 25 Oaks possibles at latest stage


SARISKA was on Thursday among the 25 remaining entries for the Investec Oaks at Epsom on June 5, and trainer Michael Bell would have been buoyed further about the favourite's prospects, having won Goodwood's Oaks trial with stablemate Moneycantbuymelove on the same day.


Unlike in the Derby, Ireland's challenge does not appear overwhelmingly strong, with their trainers responsible for ten remaining possibles.

Rainbow View continues on target for the Classic, but Fantasia, also owned by George Strawbridge, has been taken out of the race and is likely to go for the Prix de Diane.

Connections believe Sea The Stars will stay trip


THE racing manager to Sea The Stars' owners on Thursday predicted that the Stanjames.com 2,000 Guineas hero would stay the trip in the Investec Derby at Epsom on June 6.


John Clarke, racing manager to the Tsui family, believes that the Cape Cross colt, a general 3-1 shot for the Derby behind FameAnd Glory, will last the additional 4f at Epsom.

He said: "Sea The Stars is a very classy horse and I do think that he will stay the Derby trip.

"I think Cape Cross will not hinder his ability to stay 12 furlongs. I have been getting good reports from Mr [John] Oxx since Newmarket, and he is very happy with the horse."

Asked if the Betfair-sponsored King George might figure in future plans were Sea The Stars to run well on the Downs, Clarke replied: "I have no idea. It is a matter purely for the trainer.

"The Tsui family will never interfere with the trainer's decisions. He makes all the choices and advises them."

RIP VAN WINKLE was slashed in price for the Investec Derby on Friday, sparking bookmaker speculation that Johnny Murtagh would ride the Galileo colt at Epsom after what was described as "a substantial and significant gamble".

In one hour of trading Coral were forced to halve Rip Van Winkle's price to 11-2 from 11-1, prompting bookmaker conjecture that Murtagh may spurn ante-post favourite Fame And Glory in favour of the horse he rode into fourth place in the Stan James 2,000 Guineas. He is a top-priced 6-1 with Ladbrokes, Stan James and Sky Bet.

Sky Bet slashed Rip Van Winkle to 6-4 from 5-1 to be Murtagh's ride in the Epsom Classic in response to what the firm claimed was a "massive gamble", and in the Derby betting eased Fame And Glory to 3-1 from 5-2.

The firm's spokesman Matt Doyle said: "If Euros talk then Johnny Murtagh will be staying loyal to his Guineas partner and turning down the ride on Fame And Glory, who we can't give away.

"The massive gamble on Rip Van Winkle shows no sign of relenting and he is likely to emerge as Aidan O'Brien's leading Derby contender."

O'Brien has nine possible Derby runners, including seven of the first 11 in the betting, and on Friday's betting evidence he may be nearer to finalising his team.

"This isthe most significant gamble on the Derby since we started betting 12 months ago, and it all points to Rip Van Winkle potentially being the Ballydoyle number one Derby contender," said Coral spokesman Simon Clare.

"At the very least it suggests that Rip Van Winkle is in good shape and expected to run well, and as a result we have eased Sea The Stars and Fame And Glory to get more of them in the book.

"Johnny Murtagh's decision on which horse hewill ride will have a major impact on determining which horse will start favourite for the Derby. If he rides Fame And Glory it is likely that he will start favourite, but should he choose another Ballydoyle inmate then Sea The Stars could well head the betting."


Which horse will start favourite for the Derby?
Coral: 11-8 Sea The Stars, 13-8 Fame And Glory, 11-4 Rip Van Winkle, 16-1 any other horse

Murtagh sparks more Rip Van Winkle support


JOHNNY MURTAGH reaffirmed on Saturday his faith that Rip Van Winkle will prove a superstar and punters have clearly listened as he remains the top market mover for the Investec Derby.

The 2,000 Guineas fourth is clear third favourite after Victor Chandler cut him to 4-1 (from 5-1) and Hills went 5-1 (from 7-1) as Skybet closed a special bookon Murtagh's Derby ride after punters backed Rip Van Winkle into 5-4 (from 5-1).


Murtagh has yet to choose his Derby ride from the Aidan O'Brien-trained possibles, which this week stood at nine of the 20 acceptors but he gave his biggest hint yet that he will find it difficult to desert Rip Van Winkle.

Murtagh said at the Curragh: "I do have a soft spot for Rip Van Winkle. He has had class since day one and I think he has the potential tobe a great horse."

Murtagh, who has ridden Rip Van Winkle in all his four races, added: "We've two weeks to the Derby and a lot could happen. I'm not rushing into a decision and making one is over a week away.

"You look at what Fame And Glory has done and at the way the other horses Aidan (O'Brien) ran in the different trials performed, and there is a lot to weigh up and plenty of thinking to do.

"I go down to Ballydoyle three or four days a week and will keep on top of everything that is going on in the lead-up to the Derby."

The possible British-trained interest in the Derby dropped to five after Father Time was ruled out by connections following his Listed-race defeat at Newmarket on Saturday

AGAIN powered through the mud at the Curragh to score in the Boylesport.com Irish 1,000 Guineas on Sunday and the filly has been cut by several bookmakers to follow up in the Investec Oaks next month.

The David Wachman-trained runner was cut to 5-1 co-favourite of three (from 12) for the 1m4f Classic at Epsom by Paddy Power after her neck defeat of Lahaleeb on Sunday.

Ladbrokes and Victor Chandler make her a 6-1 chance (from 12) while she is a 7-1 shot with Sky Bet, William Hill and Stan James.

Oh Goodness Me also ran a bold race to finish third to Again and was shortened to 16-1 (from 25) for the Oaks by Victor Chandler. William Hill make her a 20-1 chance while she is 25-1 with Stan James.

There was plenty of support for Rip Van Winkle for the Investec Derby after Ballydoyle stable jockey Johnny Murtagh revealed on Saturday that he had a "soft spot" for the horse and William Hill clipped him again on Sunday to 9-2 (from 5).

Another highly-regarded Ballydoyle runner Steinbeck, the winner of his only start to date and the horse trainer Aidan O'Brien claimed "the birds in the trees are singing about" wascut to 7-2 favourite (from 5f) for the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot by Stan James.

Again and Leocorno could miss the Oaks


CLASSIC winning trainers Sir Michael Stoute and David Wachman were on Monday night casting doubts over the participation of their leading hopes for the Investec Oaks at Epsom on June 5.


Wachman's Again is just 5-1 with Paddy Power to bag a second Classic win following her success in Sunday's Boylesports 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh, while the Stoute-trained Leocorno is 7-1 in places for the Oaks following an impressive seasonal return in a handicap at Sandown last Thursday night.

However, Stoute warned punters to hold fire on their bets, while Wachman said he feels two starts at the highest level in such a short space of time may prove too much for his flag bearing filly.

Wachman said: “It was a bit of a slog for her in the ground on Sunday so we should know more in a few days and with the race coming up on Friday week it will be tight.”

Rip Van Winkle Derby bandwagon rolls on


BOOKMAKERS were on Monday predicting that Rip Van Winkle could yet start a shorter price than stablemate Fame And Glory for the Investec Derby on June 6 after the Stanjames.com 2,000 Guineas fourth again proved popular in the betting for Epsom.


Coral cut Rip Van Winkle to 5-1 (from 11-2) for Europe's premier Classic after laying "several four figure bets" and they believe he could start as clear Derby favourite, ahead of Fame And Glory, and Sea The Stars, who finished three places in front of him at Newmarket.

Spokesman Simon Clare said: "All we have been laying today is Rip Van Winkle to the exclusion of all the other Derby contenders, to the point where it would be a major shock if Johnny Murtagh does not choose to ride him in the big race.

"If Murtagh does, as punters expect, decide to ride Rip Van Winkle then he will definitely leapfrog Fame And Glory in the betting and he could well overtake Sea The Stars and start favourite for the Derby", added Clare.


Ladbrokes pushed Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial winner Fame And Glory out to 3-1 (from 11-4) and their spokesman David Williams also envisages he could soon be usurped in the market by his highly touted stablemate who Murtagh said over the weekend he has "a soft spot" for.



Spokesman David Williams said: "Fame And Glory continues to slide in the Derby betting as the Rip Van Winkle bandwagon gathers momentum. The prospect of the pair reversing places in the market is now very real."

Such is the strength of trainer Aidan O'Brien's hand in the race, he has nine of the 20 remaining, that William Hill go 5-1 about him saddling the first three home, and 100-1 about him mirroring the feat of Michael Dickinson in the 1983 Cheltenham Gold Cup by saddling the first five.

No decision on Murtagh Derby ride - O'Brien

AIDAN O'BRIEN has given no clues about which member of his mammoth Investec Derby squad will be ridden by stable jockey Johnny Murtagh.

A sustained gamble on Stanjames.com 2,000 Guineas fourth Rip Van Winkle has suggested that Murtagh could select him over Epsom favourite Fame And Glory, who landed the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial under Seamie Heffernan.

However, O'Brien was characteristically keeping his cards close to his chest on Thursday.

He said: "Johnnywill ride them in their next couple of pieces of work and try to make up his own mind. Everybody knows that he has a soft spot for Rip and obviously Fame And Glory was very impressive at Leopardstown. Age Of Aquarius won at Lingfield and should come forward, the two horses from York should come forward and the two from Chester should come forward. It's a difficult question and the next few days should tell us a lot more."

Sea The Stars pleases Oxx in Derby preparation


SEA THE STARS pleased John Oxx on the Curragh gallops on Friday morning as the trainer prepares him for the Investec Derby on June 6.

A decision on the participation of Beauty O' Gwaun in the Investec Oaks will be made early on Saturday before the confirmation stage for the fillies Classic which will be run at Epsom on Friday.

Oxx said of the Stanjames.com 2,000 Guineas winner: " Sea The Stars worked this morning. He did the same work he usually does and everything went well.

"He will do another bit, probably on Tuesday, but we're happy with him and it's a case of so far, so good."

Unbeaten in two starts, Beauty O' Gwaun won the Group 3 Blue Wind Stakes at Naas on her reappearance on May 13.

Oxx added: "No decision regarding Beauty O' Gwaun will be made until early in the morning after I speak with her owner, Neil Jones, in California."

Gosden delighted with Rainbow View workout

RAINBOW VIEW delighted trainer John Gosden when coming through her gallop at Epsom on Thursday as part of the "Breakfast With The Stars" morning.

Last season's champion two-year-old filly, the 9-2 second favourite for the Investec Oaks next month, was ridden by Jimmy Fortune in the workout with runaway William Hill Lincoln winner and Coronation Cup hopeful Expresso Star.


Fortune and Rainbow View finished a length behind Expresso Star, who led all the way, but Gosden was happy with the way she went.

He said: "She has done two nice pieces of work recently when she has gone five or six clear of the lead horse, but that was not the plan today.

"If you go and join (Expresso Star) he'd say let's rip and we didn't want to run the Oaks today. The plan was to follow him, and we were very pleased with her.

"She's in great nick and we are excited to come here. On pedigree she will get a mile and a quarter fine. I don't know about the other two furlongs but we have to come and find out.

He added: "Jimmy said how relaxed she was - I think she's growing up, finally."